Senior Aeronautical Engineer – Aircraft Design & Flight Dynamics

Mobizy; Caldas da Rainha; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal allowance

Health insurance for employees

Shuttle transport service

Bonus in line with policy

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Job summary

TEKEVER is seeking a senior UAV aircraft design expert to lead end-to-end design, flight dynamics, and simulation efforts. You will drive clean-sheet development across the lifecycle from concept through certification readiness, while mentoring the team and shaping key design decisions.

Applicants should have 5+ years in aircraft design and flight dynamics, strong 6-DOF knowledge, and proficiency with JSBSim or Simulink. English is mandatory; Portuguese preferred, with on-site work in Portugal.

Qualifications

• Degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechanical Engineering or similar (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years of direct industry experience in aircraft design and flight dynamics.
• Proven lifecycle experience from concept to released product on UAV or manned aircraft.
• Deep expertise in Flight Dynamics, Stability & Control and 6-DOF equations of motion.
• Strong background in mission modelling and flight performance analysis.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Aircraft Design: conceptual, preliminary, and detailed aerodynamic design.
• Flight Dynamics Expertise: stability, control and flight dynamics analysis.
• Simulation & Modeling: develop and validate 6-DOF flight models and SysID campaigns.
• Cross-Functional Integration: collaborate with Structures, Propulsion and Avionics teams.
• Mentorship: act as a technical sounding board and mentor the engineering team.

Skills

Flight Dynamics

6-DOF equations

Mission modelling

Requirements traceability

Technical leadership

English proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in Aerospace/Aeronautical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

JSBSim

Simulink

Job description

Mission:

Lead the design and development of next-generation UAVs by providing senior expertise in aircraft design, flight dynamics, and stability. Drive clean-sheet aircraft development across the full product lifecycle—from concept and sizing through detailed design, flight testing, and certification readiness—while acting as a technical reference, shaping design decisions, solving complex engineering challenges, and mentoring the team through your experience and technical leadership.

What will be your responsibilities:

• End-to-End Aircraft Design: Play a pivotal role in the conceptual, preliminary, and detailed aerodynamic design of new UAV configurations, collaborating on architectural decisions and trade-offs.
• Flight Dynamics Expertise: Provide senior-level technical insights for stability, control, and flight dynamics analysis, helping to ensure our airframes are inherently stable and controllable.
• Simulation & Modeling: Guide the development, tuning, and validation of high-fidelity 6-DOF flight simulation models and support System Identification (SysID) flight test campaigns.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with the Structures, Propulsion, and Avionics teams to resolve system-level design challenges and push the product toward a successful market release.
• Mentorship: Act as a technical sounding board for the engineering team, helping to refine our methodologies and unlock new technical solutions.

Profile and requirements:

• Degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical, Mechanical Engineering or similar (Master’s preferred).
• 5+ years of direct industry experience in aircraft design and flight dynamics.
• Proven track record of contributing to an aircraft program (manned or UAV) through the complete lifecycle—from conceptual design to manufacturing, flight testing, and released product.
• Deep expertise in Flight Dynamics, Stability & Control (handling qualities, stability derivatives, 6-DOF equations of motion).
• Strong background in mission modelling and flight performance analysis for aircraft sizing and optimization.
• Proven ability to define, trace, and validate technical requirements in alignment with relevant aerospace industry standards and regulations.
• Proficiency with flight simulation environments (JSBSim, Simulink, or similar).
• Language Requirements: English mandatory | Portuguese preferred

What we have to offer you

• A dynamic and collaborative working environment, with the opportunity to make a real impact
• A competitive salary package, aligned with your proven level of experience
• Meal allowance and health insurance for employees
• Shuttle transport service to the offices in Leiria, Caldas da Rainha and Ponte de Sor
• Bonus in line with company policy
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Pre-Employment Requirements

Employment offers may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and reference verification, in accordance with applicable laws and company policy.

Equal Employment Opportunity

TEKEVER is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Do you want to know more about us ?

Visit our LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tekever/